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Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) ensured another victory for true immigration reform supporters by signing anti-sanctuary legislation into law Monday. The measure, Senate Bill (SB) 2710, prohibits sanctuary policies, which are designed to protect criminal aliens from detection and removal from the United State by restricting communication with federal officials and compliance with detainer requests, often called ICE holds.

Introduced by Senate Judiciary A Chairman Sean Tindell (R-49), SB 2710 specifically prohibits all localities and state agencies, including the state’s public universities and colleges, from adopting or implementing any policy that limits or prohibits communication or cooperation with federal agencies or officials. SB 2710 therefore facilitates the enforcement of immigration law by federal immigration officials by allowing law enforcement and other public officials to cooperate with the federal agency as Congress intended. “We’ve had instances of cities attempting to ignore federal law or have law enforcement not check immigration status,” Senator Tindell explained.

Chairman of the House Judiciary B committee, Representative Andy Gipson (R-77), also supported SB 2710. “This doesn’t mandate any action, it just says we’re not going to turn a blind eye to the immigration law we have on the books. That’s federal law,” Gipson said during a committee hearing on the measure.

In a statement, Governor Bryant explained his support for SB 2710. “Taxpayers expect their state and its political subdivisions to abide by federal immigration laws.” He added, “I appreciate the Legislature’s work on Senate Bill 2710.” Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves (R) also commented on the victory, calling SB 2710 “a major step forward for law and order in Mississippi.”

Mississippi is not the only state advancing anti-sanctuary legislation this year. State lawmakers around the country amplified the movement to combat these policies after mayors in many of the country’s largest sanctuary cities promised illegal aliens that city officials will continue to ignore federal law following the election of President Donald Trump. Lawmakers in at least 25 states have responded to the public outcry against sanctuary policies and introduced legislation to eliminate them in their states.